Home
Back to Projects

TCP/IP Home
Project 1
TCP/IP Theory
TCP/IP Links
Programming Tips
Glossary

Here it is! My brand new project. And it will probably be the largest project I've ever started. In fact it will likely grow even bigger than my SB-Assembler.
Well it's a start anyway. I still have a long way ahead of me and my first project is just learning to crawl.

Implementing a fully functional TCP/IP stack with the limited resources available to a microcontroller, that is preferably going to do something useful in the end, is going to be quite a challenge. A challenge that has been accepted by many others before me. I know, I'm going to invent the wheel all over again for myself. But when it comes to learning all details about embedding TCP/IP there's nothing that can compete with doing it yourself. And above all, doing it myself gives so much more satisfaction in the end, compared to simply copying someone else's project.
Meanwhile I will report my progress and add some theoretical background information together with some useful links on these pages.

So if you are also interested in creating a web-enabled microcontroller system yourself feel free to come back to www.sbprojects.com and find out how far I've come and what difficulties I encounter on my path to a working application.

First and foremost my main objective is to learn in depth knowledge about the TCP/IP stack. But it would be nice if I ended up with some "useful" internet enabled devices.

I don't think my first TCP/IP project is going to involve a small web server. As far as I can see now the processor I selected for this first TCP/IP project, an Atmel ATmega 163, will not have enough memory recourses to make a serious attempt to code a web server and some contents in it.
Now I have made a decision to start with a reasonable simple clock that is synchronized over the internet. Such a clock can be enhanced to become a programmable time switch, or possibly a data logger. However it would be very nice if I could also make an Ethernet to Comm port bridging device with my first project.
Such a device can be used as a bridge between one or more standard serial Comm ports and the internet which will open all kinds of interesting possibilities.
Imagine a Comm port in your hobby room that is connected to a Comm port at the other end of the world through the internet. Feed something in at one end and it will come out on the other end! Cheap "intelligent" interfaces are easily connected to the internet through their Comm ports.
Or you can make the whole SB-Bus (or any other proprietary multi-drop bus system like RS485 or CAN-bus) accessible through the internet.
And have you ever dreamt of connecting your ancient first computer to the internet? Usually they're only kept for nostalgic reasons and to collect dust that otherwise would fall down in other parts of your house. Running a standard terminal program on your Apple ][, BBC, Exidy Sorcerer, C64, TRS-80 or whatever, will enable you to connect to a UNIX server somewhere on the internet. Usually such a server allows you to run the programs lynx and/or links and suddenly your ancient computer can browse the internet!

Finally I can report some progress again on the TCP/IP project. I have finished my SB-Assembler AVR cross overlay and now I can start programming. Some parts are soldered on a piece of pad board and the first lines of code are written.
Read all about the progress on my first TCP/IP project here.

Due to a basic lack of spare time I had to postpone the development of my project for a while again :-( Hopefully not for too long!